25 x 25: Artists’ Books from the NMWA Collection

A white book opens like a Swiss army knife; its pages cut to create a sculpture. Opened to the center, pull-out drawers open from the sides, filled with paper-made objects. On the right, a typewriter-like object. On the left, a box with smaller books, including one that is also open.
Mar 28 to Sep 16, 2012

The exhibition celebrates the generosity of donors who helped NMWA to build a foremost collection of artists’ books—among them many artists who have given their works.

The collection formally started in 1986 when NMWA founder Wilhelmina Cole Holladay purchased Caroline, by Swiss surrealist Meret Oppenheim (1913–1985). This rare volume of poetry and etchings—one of 69 copies—was the first artist’s book acquired for the collection. The collection now comprises more than 1,000 unique books and limited editions in a variety of formats, from scrolls and accordions to codices and sculptures.

Over NMWA’s 25-year history, the museum has been unique in according artists’ books a prominent place in its collection and exhibitions. The museum often integrates thematically related artists’ books into presentations of works in other mediums, in addition to presenting exhibitions like 25 x 25, which highlight many of the best artists and works in the field.

Papier-mâché head covered in clippings of pages from James Joyce's novel "Ulysses." In varying shades of green, the head includes curly, lettered strips for hair and wide and classic-Greek-style eyes under arched eyebrows.

Friederun Friederichs, Ulysses, 2009; Paper, papier-mâché artist’s book, 14 x 10 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Paula Chattin; © Friederun Friederichs

Exhibition Gallery

Paper figures in swimwear emerge from a grey-blue box with a slot in the top, like a toaster, and a yellow crank on the side. Small signs say “talking” “and laughing” “exercise” “class.” Yellow ribbons, untied, are at the base of the box.
Lois Morrison, After Water Aerobics, 2002; Mixed media, 6 x 18 x 7 1/2 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Diane K. Blumberg; © Lois Morrison
An all-white bicycle with a flat black sphere in the place of the rear wheel. A book is perched on a long arm extending from the handlebar mount, and pages of the book rest on the handlebars and are scattered on the ground.
Elisabetta Gut, Bicicletta della Luna (Moon Bicycle), 2000; Wood, metal and fragments of writing, 8 x 14 x 14 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Elisabetta Gut; © Elisabetta Gut
A white book opens like a Swiss army knife; its pages cut to create a sculpture. Opened to the center, pull-out drawers open from the sides, filled with paper-made objects. On the right, a typewriter-like object. On the left, a box with smaller books, including one that is also open.
M. L. Van Nice, Swiss Army Book, 1990; Ink on paper, linen, wood, pen nib, and ribbon, 5 1/2 x 24 1/2 x 11 1/2 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Museum purchase: The Lois Pollard Price Acquisition Fund; © M. L. Van Nice
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The Artist,

Carol June Barton

Carol Barton teaches book art classes all over the U.S., she has curated many exhibitions of book arts, and she is the author of a series of interactive workbook.
A light-skinned adult woman grins at the viewer, displaying a gap-toothed smile. She has chin-length gray hair and is working on a pop-up book depicting a tall white tower emerging from a white piece of paper on a cutting mat. Behind her are labeled bins of book art materials.

The Artist,

Mirella Bentivoglio

Mirella Bentivoglio is known for her exploration of the relationship between image and word.
Close-up black and white photo of an older woman with light skin and cropped hair. She holds up two small, speckled eggs to her eyes, the right one just visible. She sits in a bright, sun-lit room, a window on her right and wears a dark blazer and wrist watch.

The Artist,

Friederun Friederichs

Friederun Friederichs’s deep interest in what influences the human mind and her ideas regarding life, death, and suffering are reflected in her artist’s books.

The Artist,

Elisabetta Gut

Endowed with an aura of originality and poetic whimsy, Elisabetta Gut’s book objects must be seen rather than read.
Wearing a black turtleneck sweater, a light skinned woman leans on her jacked with her chin resting on her arm. She has straight, dark hair that is pulled back by a headband, and stares directly at the viewer.

The Artist,

Meret Oppenheim

Swiss artist Meret Oppenheim used a range of mediums and styles to explore dualities: sensuality and desire, friendship and love, nature and culture, reality and imagination.
Black and white photo of a woman shot from the shoulders up. She leans to the left, bringing her hand to her ear. Her light hair is cropped very short to her head and she looks past the camera with a thoughful expression, looking as if she were about to begin speaking.

The Artist,

Elena Presser

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, book artist Elena Presser moved with her family to the U.S. in 1966; she has become known for creating visual interpretations of music.
An older light-skinned woman with short, dark, curly hair looks directly at the viewer. Posed from the chest up against a light grey background, she wears a darker grey sweater, eye glasses, pearl earrings, and lipstick.

The Artist,

Renée Stout

Renée Stout is a Washington, D.C., artist whose paintings and sculptures have earned her international recognition.
" A black-and-white photograph of Renee Stout. With medium-brown skin and thick dreadlocks, and clad in a dark jacket, she looks away from the camera as she leans against a wall. Her figure casts a looming shadow against the wall."

The Artist,

M. L. Van Nice

Influenced deeply by the work of El Greco and Marcel Duchamp, M. L. Van Nice transforms objects into works of art, creating new poetic and visual context.
Black and white photo of a middle-aged woman with short grey hair and light skin. She sits against a wall and looks down, her glasses sliding down her nose slightly. She has an expression of concentration, as if she is focusing on something in her hands.

The Artist,

Claire Van Vliet

Her early exposure to nature heightened Claire Van Vliet’s interest in the outdoors and influenced her desire to celebrate the landscape in her book artwork.
A black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned adult woman with close-cropped light colored, straight hair. She is smiling and wearing a dark colored turtleneck shirt. She is shown from the neck up against a black background.